Benedict Cumberbatch: 'Star Trek Into Darkness villain mirrors Kirk'

During a recent press conference, the Sherlock star revealed that he was drawn to the role because of its moral complexity, hinting that his character is written to mirror Chris Pine's Kirk in some respects.

"He's a terrorist, he's someone who does pretty extraordinarily bad and awful things," Cumberbatch said, "but with good intentions.

"He has pride, and a purpose, and something that mirrors Kirk's mission, in a way. It was very much the idea that there was a nobility to him – he wasn't just a bad-ass, as they say over here."